Exploring the Wine Glass

I was a guest of the Villany wine region's Franc & Franc symposium over Thanksgiving weekend.  We were treated to an opening event at the Siklos Castle (Fortress). 

The castle was built by Baron János György Benyó in the 13th century in the town of Siklós in the southern part of Hungary near Pécs. It was first mentioned in a charter from 1294. The oldest building is in the southern part of the residential wing. After the original family died out it became the property of the Garai family. In 1401 disgruntled nobles led by Count György II Benyóvszky temporarily imprisoned king Sigismund in the castle. By the 16th century the next owner was the palatine (viceroy) Imre Perényi. From 1728 Siklós belonged to the counts of Batthyány. Legend has it that a giant snake guarded the treasures in the basement. The castle also houses a chapel built in the 14th and 15th centuries. The castle was built and owned by the Benyóvszky de Siklósvar branch of the family until it was nationalized in 1948. (from Wikipedia)

I wish this was a videocast so that you could see the place as I did. But I hope you enjoy listening to the history of the Fortress and these photos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

Join our wine club. The Chalk Club 3 bottles of Dracaena Wines 2x per year. Choose between all red or red and rose'. 

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Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

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Slainte!

In this episode, I share my feelings about how Cats in the Cradle is the ideal song when it comes to talking about Cabernet Franc and how in 2013, I decided to start a campaign to give Cabernet Franc the respect it deserves and have the first #CabFrancDay.  

The now internationally recognized wine holiday is celebrated every year on December 4th. Why not celebrate the holidy with a bottle of Dracaena Wines double gold award winning Cabernet Franc. 

Enjoy the music, enjoy the story and I hope to see you on December 4th at 8pm ET - just follow the hashtag; #CabFrancDay and lets prove to the world that Cabernet Franc is #MoreThanABlendingGrape.  

Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

Join our wine club. The Chalk Club 3 bottles of Dracaena Wines 2x per year. Choose between all red or red and rose'. 

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

Please support us by finding out more about our sponsors:

On this episode: 

Debbie Gioquindo and Michael Kelly

No outline for today's podcast, we are just sharing our embarrassing wine moments along with some other's I found on line.  Do you have an embarrassing wine moment? I'd love to hear them! Leave me a comment or share them on the social media channels. I can be found on them all @Dracaenawines.

RIDDLE:

You walk into a creepy house by yourself. There is no electricity, plumbing or ventilation. Inside you notice 3 doors with numbers on them.  You must choose one door to go through.

Door 1 says Lions - You will be eaten by a lion who is extremely hungry.

Door 2 says Ninjas - You will be stabbed to death by a group of ninjas.

Door 3 says Chair - There is an electric chair waiting for you.

Which door do you pick?

ANSWER BELOW

Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

Join our wine club. The Chalk Club 3 bottles of Dracaenawines 2x per year. Choose between all red or red and rose'. 

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

ANSWER: Door number 3- with no electricity, you can't be electrocuted. 

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~Slainte!

Welcome to Vine soil 101. In this episode I dive into the telltale signs that a vineyard is not healthy. Plants, like us, need nutrients and those nutrients come in two forms; macro and micro. After listening in, I hope you learned a bit more about vine health and maybe the next time you walk through a vineyard you will be more aware of the health of the vines you are observing. The berries always get the attention, but they could never make great wines if it weren’t for the green stuff!

If you would like to see photos that correspond to the nutrient deficiencies you heard about today, please head on over to my blog. 

If you like what you hear, please give us a 5 star review, so that others can find us! We appreciate your support.

 Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

 Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

Our CHALK CLUB offers you a great deal on our award winning wines. Find out more on our website. 

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On October 22nd, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a Master Class presented by the Wines of Macedonia. We tasted through seven wines with a focus on the Vranec grape variety. Known as the Macedonian Pride or the Black Stallion these wines are hand picked from warm climates and provide a powerful color along with the primary tastes of chocolate and black fruits. 

Join me as I listen to Roger Bissell describe the wine region and the following wineries.

 1. Stobi Winery

www.stobiwinery.mk

2. Tikves Winery

www.tikves.com.mk

3. Chateau Kamnik Winery

[email protected] www.chateaukamnik.com

4. Bovin Winery

www.bovin.com.mk

5. Popov Winery

[email protected] www.popovwinery.com.mk

6. Ezimit Winery

[email protected] www.ezimitvino.com.mk 7. Dalvina Winery

[email protected] www.dalvina.com.mk

If you like what you hear, please give us a 5 star review, so that others can find us! We appreciate your support.

 Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

 Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

Sláinte!

Please visit our sponsors!

Did you know that Dracaena Wines has a Wine Club? We do! It's called the Chalk Club. (I know, it only makes sense if you are a gambler, but it means you are betting on all the favorites and we bet once you taste our award winning wines, we will become one of your favorites! Click here to find out more! 

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Hey Everyone! Thanks for listening in.  Today’s episode is another in the wild podcast. I was back in New York City for the Spain’s Great Match Food and Wine Design Event. Once again it was held in the IAC building on West 18th.

In what was the 25th anniversary of this tasting, I was able to taste over 300 unique Spanish wines that were poured alongside some of New York’s and Spain’s top Spanish restaurants. I tasted the more popular Albarino and Garnacha but was also introduced to some new to me varieties such as Xarel-lo, Palomino Fino and Listan Negro.

Oriol Gabarro; Aveniu Brands 

Alan Schivek; Wines of the World

Scott Grodofsky; Cordelina Wine Company

Annie Schelble; Toro NYC 

Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

Join our wine club. The Chalk Club 3 bottles of Dracaena Wines 2x per year. Choose between all red or red and rose'. 

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

Please support us by finding out more about our sponsors:

Today, we have another Wine Writers’ Wrap Up.  We had a different topic planned for today, but in the light of what may be the biggest scandal in the wine industry since Rudy Kurniawan’s wine hoax in 2013, I thought we’d change topics and discuss what has become known as the Somm Scandal. 

If you haven’t heard, the Court of Master Sommeliers announced that they were stripping the titles of 23 candidates who passed the tasting portion of the exam and were granted entrance into the illustrious and almost mystical group. The announcement was made after it was found out that another Master Somm leaked what wines would be included in the tasting. Is this the end of the world, no? But it is a pretty big deal in the wine world.

So join me along with my fellow winelovers as we discuss the scandal, the penalties and what this potentially can mean for the future of Sommeliers.

To help support the MS candidates that were stripped of their title, please click here. 

RIDDLE TIME:

A couple decided they wanted to elope. They agreed to meet at the tree they had their first date. On the day they were to meet, one of them decided they could not go through with it. The second arrived at the tree and saw a fruit. This fruit told them all they needed to know... their love would not be coming.  What was the fruit?

ANSWER BELOW.

If you like what you hear, please give us a 5 star review, so that others can find us! We appreciate your support.

Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

Join our wine club. The Chalk Club 3 bottles of Dracaena Wines 2x per year. Choose between all red or red and rose'. 

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

Please support us by finding out more about our sponsors:

The sweet wines of Quarts de Chaume (GAAR DU CHOME) have nearly infinite aging potential. Made with the Loire’s hallmark Chenin Blanc grape, they offer complex, nuanced flavors that can pair with both rich savory dishes and desserts. This appellation is located on a small parcel of land in a single commune on the right bank of the Layon: Rochefort-sur-Loire within the Anjou district.

If you like what you hear, please give us a 5 star review, so that others can find us! We appreciate your support.

Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

Join our wine club. The Chalk Club 3 bottles of Dracaena Wines 2x per year. Choose between all red or red and rose'. 

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

Please support us by finding out more about our sponsors:

Today, I have a special treat. I had the privilege of attending a very intimate tasting hosted by Tyson Stelzer in support of Wine Australia and Wine Tasmania. Tyson Stelzer is a multi-award winning wine writer, television presenter and international speaker. He was named The International Wine & Spirit Communicator of the Year 2015 in the International Wine & Spirit Competition, The Wine Communicators of Australia Australian Wine Communicator of the Year 2015 and 2013 and The International Champagne Writer of the Year 2011 in The Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards. The wines were exceptional and Tyson was not only a fantastic host, but an incredible person to interview. His knowledge and passion are exceptional. I know you are going to enjoy this interview and I’m hoping it peeks your curiosity to seek out some wines from Tasmania.

~Slainte!

Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

Join our wine club. The Chalk Club 3 bottles of Dracaena Wines 2x per year. Choose between all red or red and rose'. 

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

Please support us by finding out more about our sponsors:

When the email arrived in my mailbox asking me if I was interested in attending the James Sucklinng Great Wines of the Andes in NYC, I immediately responded yes. This event was the fift anniversary and had more than 100 leading producers from Chile, Argentin and Uruguay.

The podcast was recorded in a room filled with over 500 people, so there is a lot of background noise. I have done my best to lower that noise, but alas it is still there. I hope you can listen through it, since there is really some interesting stories and wines! 

In this episode:Danielle Thomas; U.S. Market Director, Almaviva

Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle; Chief Executive Officer, Clos Apalta

Michel Couttolenc; Vice President Sales & Marketing N. America, Errazuriz

Patricia Castro; PR & Corporate Communications, Grupo Penaflor

  Our Wines + Your Moments = Great Memories

Join our wine club. The Chalk Club 3 bottles of Dracaenawines 2x per year. Choose between all red or red and rose'. 

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at [email protected].

Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dracaenawines

Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, Google + and Snapchat (@dracaenawines)

Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.

Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.

Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!